Former Beastie Boys member Michael Diamond, aka Mike D, has officially revealed plans to release his first solo studio album. Titled “Thank You,” the 13-track project is scheduled for release on August 28 under the banner of his new musical group, Mike D 5D. The announcement arrived alongside the release of a third preview track, “True Colors,” following the earlier singles “Switch Up” and “What We Got.”
The project marks the first full-length collection of new music from a member of the Beastie Boys since the group’s 2011 album Hot Sauce Committee Part Two. ‘Thank You’ grew out of informal recording sessions at Mike D’s home studio that initially involved his sons, Skyler and Davis Diamond. The project later expanded to include collaborators such as Carter Lang, Jared Solomon, Ging, Jason Lader, Eddie Ruscha and Tyran Donaldson. The album was mixed by Derek “MixedByAli” Ali and mastered by Nicolas de Porcel.
In announcing the record, Mike D said, “It’s been so much fun making this music with people I love and I have grown to really appreciate in our collaboration. And I just hope it’s fun for others and not overly serious, because let’s be real, I’m releasing this music into a very strange and dark and power-fixated world that really devalues art and feelings and compassion and empathy and equality.”
The album arrives after a series of intimate live performances in the United States and Europe with the Mike D 5D band, which includes his sons. Recent shows featured a mix of new material and Beastie Boys favorites, offering audiences an early look at songs from Thank You while signaling a new chapter in Diamond’s career following the death of bandmate Adam “MCA” Yauch in 2012.
Stream ‘True Colors’ – HERE.
Preorder ‘Thank You’ – HERE.
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